Meaning

Abstract

The connection between quality leadership and meaning is clear—the same elements that enable us to create meaning (understanding where we have been, where we are going, identifying and achieving valued goals, and feeling fulfilled by life) are also key attributes of leadership. Servant leaders have the ability, primarily through developing relationships, to share that purpose and mission with followers as well as the important role followers play in that mission (Steger & Dik in The Oxford handbook of positive psychology and work. Oxford University Press, Oxford, pp. 131–142, 2013). There are numerous ways that leaders can create a meaningful experience for followers including building secure relationships through mutual commitment, hiring/recruiting for cultural fit as well as for skills and experience, investing in follower development, showing a willingness to trust and delegate, structuring rewards on group and organizational goals and not solely on individual performance, leading with transparency, and letting followers believe that they have a say in your organization. Being successful can be admirable, but it does not provide meaning. Many servant leaders can enjoy success, but they also need to experience self-fulfillment (Sendjaya in Free air, more autonomous, more likely themselves to become servant. Springer International Publishing, Cham, Switzerland, 2015; Keith in The case for servant leadership. Greenleaf Center for Servant Leadership, Westfield, IN, 2015). For a servant leader, meaning can be found in the inherent value of serving others and not from acclaim.